Preview: Cavaliers at Kings

January 14, 2013|Reuters

The Sacramento Kings have lost by 20 or more points three times during a four-game losing skid and attempt to change their fortunes when they host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday. The Kings have lost by an average of 21.5 points their slide and are 0-3 on a five-game homestand that has been haunted by reports of a possible move of the franchise to Seattle. Cleveland lost 113-93 to the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.

The Cavaliers are 0-2 on a five-game trip and just 5-18 away from home this season. Cleveland has the second-worst record in the NBA and trailed by as many as 30 points in the loss to the Lakers. âI feel like getting beat like that is embarrassing,â Cavaliers guard C.J. Miles said. The Kings were pounded 128-99 by the Miami Heat on Saturday and were never in the contest. âThe game was over in the first five minutes for the most part,â Sacramento coach Keith Smart said. The Kings beat the Cavaliers 97-94 in Cleveland on Jan. 2.

ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (9-30): Having a record better than only the Washington Wizards isnât what Cleveland was expecting. The Cavaliers were aiming to be vastly improved but the loss of center Anderson Varejao (knee) was a huge blow. Varejao hasnât played since Dec. 18 and underwent surgery last week and is expected to be sidelined another two months. Some of the recent efforts have been particularly demoralizing. âThere are going to be some bumps and we know that,â Miles said. âThe biggest thing is for us to be able to come and compete every night, and I donât think thatâs an excuse for effort.â

ABOUT THE KINGS (13-24): Second-year guard Isaiah Thomas had the best outing of his 99-game career during Saturdayâs loss. Thomas scored a career-best 34 points and was 6-for-8 from 3-point range after being just 2-of-17 from behind the arc over his previous five games. Thomas scored 21 points in the third quarter to mark his second 20-point quarter of the campaign. He scored 23 points in the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Dec. 14. Thomas is averaging 26 points over the last two games to raise his season average to 11.5.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Cleveland has won six straight games in Sacramento with the Kings last winning on their home floor on Jan. 20, 2005.

2. Cavaliers rookie C Tyler Zeller is just 6-of-22 from the field over the last three games.